Editorial: We believe every voter should go into the polls asking 'What's in it for me and Midland?'

Midland Reporter-Telegram
| on March 5, 2018

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When we think of the county judge’s election, we believe every voter should go into the polls asking one question, “what’s in it for me and Midland?”

This election features three candidates, who by their own accounts, are not one in the same. There are differences. For those who haven’t voted, we hope you read up on James Beauchamp, Terry Johnson and Stephen Robertson and determine what you like and dislike about each. They certainly have gone above and beyond to provide information to this newspaper to pass on to our readers. Their op-eds along with other stories on the race are available at mrt.com.

As is Reporter-Telegram policy, we won’t be endorsing a candidate in this race. Our role is to provide the information and let you decide. We believe the next county judge must be willing to move the Commissioners’ Court toward working better with the city of Midland.

As it stands now, we believe there have been lost opportunities when it comes to the current interlocal agreement between the city of Midland and Midland County. We believe the county must become a bigger player in the future development of the city and community, and its participation will ultimately help with funding those needs while keeping property taxes lower.

We need collaboration, and if that doesn’t take place, there will be more stress put on a limited city budget, while county resources balloon because of a half-cent in sales tax that was meant for property- tax relief, not for a massive reserve fund.

When that half cent of tax was approved by Midland County residents in the 1980s, no one could have imagined it would bring in the amount of money it currently does. And while many other counties have multiple incorporated cities inside their boundaries, Midland County has just Midland, and therefore, in our view, the county should play a role in helping to take care of the city’s current priorities – specifically the infrastructure needed to handle the anticipated growth.

We believe that this community should elect Commissioners’ Court and City Council members who make us feel comfortable ripping up the current interlocal agreement and starting over.

We want to see more partnerships on projects that:

- make it easier for all residents in Midland County to get around easier.

- help make development easier, therefore making it easier to build more housing.

- take care of the essentials and then benefits the quality of life for all.

We want city and county residents to support a candidate who shows a commitment to help meet the demands of an entire community and who doesn’t operate in a silo. If our city and county can do more together, “what’s in it for you” is better roads, lower cost of living, better handling of a growing population, lower taxes and a better quality of life.